D is for DPNs

I've got a set of Knit Picks Harmony double pointed needles. For sock knitting, these are very nearly perfect. Each is a set of six, so I don't have to worry if I manage to lose one. I like that they are multicolored. What I don't like is that they are all the same multi colors. I frequently have to check them with a needle sizer to make sure I'm using all the same size needles in a project.

I decided to see what other kinds of dpns there might be out there. A quick search turned up some good information at Knitter's Review. Their reviews introduced me to some new stuff:

• Swallow Needle Mfg. makes needles from casein, a milk protein. There have been reports of pets eating these. I have bamboo needles with little kitty teeth marks in them, so I don't think they'd last long in my house.
  
• I have a set or two of plastic needles in really big sizes that have been kicking around here for decades. Plastic seems like a not very good material for dpns, but Knitter's Review says they're good for arthritic fingers to use.
  
• Signature Needle Arts makes high precision aluminum needles, including dpns. These are supposed to be the Ferrari of knitting needles and are priced accordingly. I'm not fond of metal needles for knitting. It brings back memories of knitting in college. I dropped an aluminum needle on a cement floor in a big class in an auditorium. You can guess how much noise it made. Anyway, if some people come to my house with a big cardboard check, I'd like to give these a try. They make their 4" needles in a way that they don't poke the heck out of your palm. I've made some earring-sized socks with 4" size 0000 needles and it's like having a bunch of sharp tapestry needles stabbing you when you use them.
  
• Regia (the people who make the sock yarn) has a line of smaller-sized dpns. They are aluminum and come with a pair of cute sock-shaped point protectors that keep all the unused needles together.
  
• Lantern Moon Sox Stix are hardwood needles that come in nice storage bags. The problem I have is that they come in 7" and 5" lengths. 5" is definitely too short for me. I have a set of 7" bamboo needles that are too long. Sorry, Lantern Moon. I still love my black sheep tape measure from you, though.
  
• Blue Sky dpns come in pretty tins. I'm a sucker for clever packaging, so I'm glad I read the review. The needles are somewhat fragile and there have been reports of splintering. Also, they are 5" long. Too short to be tempting.